We had spur-of-the-moment breakfast there today on our way back from somewhere else. It was a good stop. This hacienda is within the Merida city limits, slightly east of town. It’s owned, according to an employee, by the Millet family of Merida.They’ve been in business for two years.
We turned off the noisy main street toward Chichen Itza, went through a crummy neighborhood of brand new box houses and into the grounds of the hacienda. The moment we entered the gate, reality changed.
The gardens are lush and well tended and the building exterior is, well, very hacienda-like. A beautiful graceful entry stair, tall beamed ceilings inside, and some lovely stained glass. They could have named this place Tranquility.
Stained glass
We drove up to the entryway and were met by two jacketed men – one to take the car to an undisclosed location and the other to ESCORT us inside. Once at the front desk, a young woman there ESCORTED us into the restaurant. When we arrived, we had two or three waiters (who managed NOT to be annoying).
The inner decor was austere. New, neutral colored tile floors, all white walls with too-small paintings of Maya life, and strange archways. The high ceilings were beamed but the wood looked like it had been added rather than restored. In fact, the inside of the main building doesn’t look like a restoration as much as a rebuild. For some reason, the restaurant is divided into three long, narrow rooms. Although the architecture is odd, this does provide an element of intimacy so lacking in most of the local restaurants.
From the restaurant to the front lobby
Okay, this is the last negative comment. The seats are hard. They’re those upright wooden chairs and they have no cushions. When I go back (and I think I will), I will bring my own cushion from the car because I’m a cranky old lady.
Well, one more little snipe. The music. Kenny G, for god’s sake.
Our first compliments are to the staff. All of them seem proud of the place, are smart, and knew what they were doing. They all knew something about the hacienda and were eager to share information. Our escort from the entryway into the building spoke fluent English, had lived in CO for ten years. He cheerfully told us that he and his brother had been deported from the USA, forcing him to quit junior college, but he hoped to re-enter legally in a few years. He pointed out interesting plantings in the garden. We love to see employees who like their jobs.
Cheese omelet, potatoes, tortilla cup filled with frijoles
The cheese omelet was cooked perfectly. It came with small roasted potatoes and a little tortilla cup full of excellent frijoles. I asked for toasted pan frances, and it arrived at the same time as the food! The coffee was okay, not great, but we were happy to see the warm milk in a pitcher that came with it. The food wasn’t splendid, but it was good, and we’ll go back and try them for lunch or dinner.
We paid 100 pesos (about $8 USD) for the omelette and coffee. This is about the same as what we paid at Rosa y Xocolate in Merida, which is a more sophisticated operation.
One of the nicest features of the Hacienda Misne is the serenity and quiet. Although it is in an unattractive, busy part of town, once you enter the Hacienda grounds, you would think you were in another century. The grounds are large, there is a pool, and everything is immaculate and inviting. It’s a great place to go for a quiet, good meal.
There are a number of well maintained paths through the lush gardens and after dining, you are free to stroll the grounds. Some of the plants are labelled.
Base of either a Pich or a Ceiba tree, depending who you talk to
Hacienda Misne
When we left and drove back through the horrible little new housing development, we saw two staunch young male Mormon missionaries in their white shirts with ties, trudging among the houses. One of them had a terrible case of acne (I wonder why) and I doubt they’ll ever enter Hacienda Misne.
Just outside the gates - Colonia Misne
The young man who had our car waiting when we left, wanted to know how we liked it, whether we’d be back, and how we enjoyed the garden. A great crew of workers, good food, quiet and lovely. Go there.
The rooms start at about $300 and the master suites are about $1000 USD. Rooms have hammocks, a/c, WINDOWS, and dipping pools.
See their website here.
Birds of paradise?
Address: Calle 19 #172, at 6-B, Fraccionamento Misne #1 Merida
Telephone: 999-940-7150
Driving directions: Take Circuito Colonias to the intersection with Plaza Oriente. Going east (toward Chichen Itza) the street is Quetzocoatl and to the west is Calle 65 (into downtown Merida). Turn east and follow Quetzalcoatl until you see the big Pemex in front of you. Veer right and continue a few blocks to the huge sign for the Hacienda Misne with arrow pointing to the turnoff to the right. Go to the end of the road, a few blocks, and it is right in front of you.
You are right; it is a treasure close to home. I attended a meeting there a couple of months ago and was very impressed with the service and the grounds. Lovely.
That “horrible new housing development” is more than likely Infonavit Housing. It’s true that they start out looking like little boxes but I promise within two years they will all look different and some will be small businesses. A real neighborhood will be created. The houses are affordable for the average Joe and Jane who are working at minimum wage. We don’t manage that in the US.
Infonavit is part of the social system which is supported by the taxes you pay on workers. They get credits in their account and their payments are based on their income.
this sounds really great… want would be a good thing to add are the directions or a map . Thanks for the review I would love to try it out
Adele – Done. See above.
Yucatan Living – Hacienda Misne
yucatanliving.com/news/hacienda-misne-2.htm
97.74.24.2
Submitted on 2010/01/17 at 11:41am
[...] Type: Yucatean and Continental Neighborhood: Fraccionamiento Misné 1 Telephone: (999) 940 7150 Address: Calle 19 No. 172 por 6-B Fracc. Misné 1 How to Get There from the Centro: Go east. Go as if you are going to Cancun. Head east on Calle 65 (the one that the road to Cancun goes into after you cross over the Periferico. Before you get to the Periferico but past the Bodega Aurrera, you will see the sign to Hacienda Misne. There is a tree in the middle of the road that you turn right on. Go to then end of the road, and there is the hacienda. Conversely, you can get yourself to the Periferico, take the exit for the road to Cancun, but go the opposite direction (towards centro). You will turn left onto the Misne road. Parking: Yes, and lots of it. Valet parking. AirConditioned: No Outdoors: Yes, in various locations. Our favorite was drinks on the veranda. Drinks: Full bar Hours: Every Day, all day Website: http://www.haciendamisne.com.mx Facebook: Notes: We ate lunch, dinner and breakfast here. All the meals were good… some of them were even better. Beryl Gorbman also reviewed it here: http://gorbman.com/2010/01/17/restaurant-review-hotel-and-restaurant-indigo-hacienda-misne/ [...]
Went the other day after dropping some folks off at their lodgings at San Pedro NohPat after a tour and was unable to get into the Hacienda because there was an event going on ie a private event. The fellows at the gate were extremely courteous and I will go there soon for some sampling of their culinary offerings. Nice review! And I agree, Infonavit or not, the housing developments the Infonavit authorizes are horrendous. Did you see any yards or ‘green’ areas? Didn’t think so.
The photo is of the worst of it. Some of the houses look decent, and I saw one where they had bought two and put them together with some additional masonry, painted it up, and it was OK. But the basic architecture is awful, if you can even call it architecture. I understand they want to spend as little as possible, but it doesn’t have to be this grim. No gardens, no trees, just weeds.
Excellent review! Although I haven’t been yet, I will put it on my list of things to do, places to go. Your post really explains what to expect, and what not to expect! A great “heads up” on this quaint place of interest.
Food looks pretty good, price structure is within reach, and atmosphere abounds! I’ll get there!
Nice review!
Re, bird of paradise? — looks like Heliconia (not fully open) — either H. bihai (Lobster claw) or H. rostrata.
Re, Infonavit housing — check out the current stories in the Diario de Yucatan regarding the (resurgence of) the idea of further reducing the minimum lot size for subsidized housing (minichiquilotes)…
This is an interesting theme–the houses. It reminded me of Malvina Reynolds’ song, “Ticky Tacky Houses.” ( see http://en.allexperts.com/q/Oldies-2943/lyrics-14.htm
I now wonder, after all these years, if this song which I admit to always loving, was popular with Daly City residents?!
The subject of where we choose to live has always intrigued me. I chose a house in SF that was in a “mixed economic area” because in part, I did not want to feel I needed to “dress up” to go to the corner store. Same here in Mérida–I found a similar colonia, where relatively few of the houses are walled-in, and virtually none bounded by electric fences, but where there are poor families as well wealthier.
The subject is very multi-dimensional. I sure can understand someone choosing a “ticky tacky” over the alternative, maybe, of none. I agree with Martha –the community will evolve, as well as the greenery.
Hola!
Just posted the review by the Neurotic Casual Restaurant Critic of this place – for dinner.
http://www.lawsonsyucatan.com/2010/04/06/hacienda-misne-indigo-hotel/